Long Beach man, 60, to be charged with possession of explosive components

LONG BEACH — A 60-year-old Long Beach man whose cache of fake explosives, which included components of real explosive devices, resulted in the 12-hour evacuation of his Central Long Beach neighborhood will be formally charged Tuesday.

Bernard Daniels was arrested Saturday and has been booked on numerous counts, including possession of component/material to construct explosive devices, hiking his bail to $150,000, Long Beach Police Department spokeswoman Nancy Pratt said Monday.

Daniels was initially booked on a lesser charge of possession of hoax explosive devices, but an additional charge was added Monday, resulting in the higher bail amount, Pratt explained.

The investigation was launched Friday, after Daniels was seen placing several "suspicious devices" onto his vehicle at about 5:25 p.m., Pratt said.

Officers confirmed there were no live explosives on the vehicle or in Daniel's possession, but the investigation remained active, she said.

Police returned to Daniels' home, located in the 1700 block of East Seventh Street, Saturday afternoon to arrest him. That was when detectives learned there may be explosives in the man's apartment, prompting the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Bomb Squad and the Long Beach Police Department SWAT team to respond and evacuate the neighborhood, which was shut down until 1 a.m. Sunday.

Though no live explosive devices were found in the man's home, the components to build real explosive devices were discovered and seized, Pratt said.

Daniels was being held at the Long Beach City Jail Monday and is expected to be arraigned Tuesday at the Long Beach Superior Court, she said.

The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to call LBPD Violent Crimes Detective David Ternullo, at 562-570-7250. Anonymous tips may be sent text or email at www.tipsoft.com.